Lions of Sabi Sands, Manyeleti and Ngala as of March 2025

Lion Dynamics of Sabi Sands, Ngala and Manyeleti as of March 2025

Sabi Sands:

In the south, the Gijima males still continue to rule with an iron paw, their grip on the Msuthu, Styx and Southern prides is immense, and it seems like the Nkuhlu males have also learned their lesson not to invade. Speaking of the Nkuhlus, they have started to recalibrate and regroup, they are for now at least not interested in the Gijimas’ territory, but rather in in their Sand River pride.

The Nkuhuma males (born in 2019 and Mohawk and Blondie’s sons) and their father, the legendary Mohawk Avoca male, are still holding strong just south-east of Sabi Sands, they control the Mantimahle breakaway pride and the Nkuhuma males have sired at least 2 cubs, sightings are unfortunately rare, as usual in Kruger, but in the latest sightings all 3 males seemed in good condition, let’s hope for all the best.

In central Sabi Sands, the Ndzhenga males keep holding on to their territory and their Kambula and Ntsevu prides, the Ndzhengas are no longer the strongest coalition in Sabi Sands, and they are reaching the end of their prime years, but they are showing no signs on slowing down or succumbing to the younger coalitions, let’s hope the rule of the Ndzhengas and their prides continue to thrive and that these 2 continue to mesmerise us with their majestic presence.

The Kambula males, are once again roaming all over Sabi Sands, searching for prides after one Kambula male got beat up by the Mantimahle coalition, this news could be bad for most other coalitions of Sabi Sands as the Kambulas are 4 males who are nearing their prime and nearly every other coalition in Sabi Sand are duos.

In the West, the Plains Camp males continue their iron paw rule, they have now sired cubs with every pride in the west, some of which unfortunately didn’t make it. The Nkuhuma, Talamati male coalition are showing no signs of taking over a pride and seem content with the nomadic lifestyle, despite being in decent condition. The Tumbela male keeps hiding in the shadows, barely hanging on to life, let’s hope he reunites with the Nkuhuma male and is able to get back in good condition.

In the north, the Nkuhuma pride seem content with the life of not having dominant males, the chance of a takeover by the Mantimahle males slowly faded away and the Black Dam male, has once again started trailing the pride. The Mantimahle males have started to visit the Nkuhuma pride less, seemingly having lost interest. The young Nkuhuma male, born in 2021 and sired by the Northern Avocas (Blondie and Mohawk, Darkmane already left the 2 at this time), recently took on the Kruger male, who tried to chase him off and he certainly didn’t lose, it is clear that this young male will live up to his fathers’ legacy. Speaking of the Kruger male, he and the Southern Avoca are still roaming around northwestern Sabi Sands, and while the Kruger male has set his sights on the Nkuhuma pride, the Southern Avoca seems content with the nomadic lifestyle.

Manyeleti:

Around the Main dam area, the legendary Red Road male continues to defy the odds, he is about 11 years old and way beyond his prime, but is in better shape than most younger male lions in the reserve, he seems to be bonding with his son from the Nharu pride, and the chance of a father-son coalition seems very high. The Nharu pride and their new cubs (fathered by Red Road) are thriving under Red Road’s protection. Let’s hope for all the best in the future.

Sad news in the north, Mandevu, the iconic last Tintswalo male, has passed away, he came back from Ngala (territory of the Mbiri males), badly injured, Mandevu’s remains were found a few days after he was found injured, Mandevu died either from his injuries or hyenas. Mandevu’s partner, the Nzuri or Young Orpen male was seen roaming around searching for Mandevu, let’s hope he stays safe and away from other males. Due to Mandevu’s passing, the Mbiri pride is in chaos after Mandevu’s death and are split up in the pride’s territory. Even before Mandevu’s passing, the Mbiri males constantly infiltrated the Mbiri pride, leaving Mandevu and Nzuri to keep a distance, and now that Mandevu is gone, the Mbiri males seem the top contender for the Mbiri pride, the only thing that might hold them back is if the Birmingham pride lionesses come back into heat. Another contending coalition of males is the Mongawane coalition of the Torchwood male and the Osindile Birmingham male, but they seem quite content with the Skorro pride to the east in Kruger.

 

Ngala:

In the north, the Mayanbula pride come in and out, the pride is usually in splinter groups and wonder around northern Ngala and parts of Timbavati.

Even though they spend more time in Kruger, the Birmingham pride continue to be a significant presence in Ngala and are still holding a significant territory in the central parts of the reserve.

Recently, a group of of 2 females and 3 cubs split off from the Birmingham pride and formed the Mabotlel pride, unfortunately 2 of the cubs passed away, but at least the last cub is in good condition.

There is only one dominant coalition of male lions on Ngala, and they are the 2 Mbiri males, sons of the legendary Northern Matimba coalition. The Mbiri males have sired 15 cubs with the Birmingham pride and have recently been seen mating with the Mabotlel pride lionesses and even leaving Ngala to fetch the Mbiri pride from Manyeleti (but no reports of mating have been confirmed.) The Mbiri males are also the prime suspect of Mandevu’s injuries, as Mandevu came back from Ngala, wounded. The Mbiri males, Shaka (smaller, yet more aggressive and dominant) and Scar (one of the largest male lions in Ngala, central Kruger and Manyeleti) have rarely been seen in Kruger, which used to be their core territory, and rather prefer to spend their time in Ngala, mating with the Mabotlel females, or in Manyeleti, fetching the Mbiri pride and taking them into Ngala. The Mbiri males also rarely visit the Birmingham pride, as all the females have cubs to care for, and hence they don’t enter heat, so the Mbiri males would rather visit females they can mate with.

 

Winners and losers:

Winners:

·      Mbiri males

·      Gijima males and their prides

·      Plains Camp males

·      Nkuhlu males

·      Mabotlel pride

·      Red Road male

·      Red Road’s son

·      Mohawk Avoca

·      Mohawk’s 2021 born Nkuhuma son/ nephew

Losers:

·      Nzuri male

·      Birmingham pride

·      Tumbela male

Tribute to Mandevu:

Mandevu’s life was filled with challenges, fights, protection and strong bonds. Mandevu was the last of the Tintswalo coalition, a sole survivor, he returned to Manyeleti and took the Nzuri male under his wing, unfortunately, bad luck got Mandevu face to face with the Mbiri males, who ended his reign.

Mandevu’s roar and stature will be missed, and his death marks the end of an era in lion history.

RIP Mandevu, you will be missed.

Thanks for reading.